U.S. patent number 3,864,060 [Application Number 05/334,349] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-04 for automatic liquid inventory collecting and dispensing unit.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the. Invention is credited to John B. Hall, Jr., Edwin F. Williams.
United States Patent |
3,864,060 |
Hall, Jr. , et al. |
February 4, 1975 |
AUTOMATIC LIQUID INVENTORY COLLECTING AND DISPENSING UNIT
Abstract
This invention provides means for automatically collecting waste
liquids and for simultaneously feeding these liquids into water
recovery processes. The invention includes first and second tanks
with first and second two-way solenoid valves associated with each
of the tanks. The first solenoid valve is connected to the liquid
source and its associated tank so as to allow liquid to flow into
the tank when the valve is in its normal position and to allow the
liquid to flow out of the tank when the valve is in its actuated
position. The second valve is connected to its associated tank and
a gas supply so as to allow gas inside the tank to flow out when
the valve is in its normal position and to allow gas to flow from
the gas supply into the tank when the valve is in its actuated
position. Control circuit means are included for actuating the two
valves associated with the first tank and not actuating the valves
associated with the second tank when both said first tank is filled
and said second tank is emptied and for not actuating the two
valves associated with said first tank and for actuating the two
valves associated with said second tank when both said first tank
is emptied and said second tank is filled, whereby both tanks are
alternately filled and emptied. The invention also includes means
for indicating which tank is being filled and which tank is being
emptied, means for indicating the liquid level in each of the
tanks, means for counting the number of times the first and second
tanks are filled and means for making the invention operable in a
near-zero gravity environment.
Inventors: |
Hall, Jr.; John B. (Newport
News, VA), Williams; Edwin F. (Hampton, VA) |
Assignee: |
The United States of America as
represented by the Administrator of the (Washington,
DC)
|
Family
ID: |
23306818 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/334,349 |
Filed: |
February 21, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/36; 417/138;
73/221; 417/395 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B
43/0736 (20130101); F04B 49/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F04B
43/06 (20060101); F04B 49/06 (20060101); F04B
43/073 (20060101); F04b 049/00 (); F04b 043/04 ();
F04f 001/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;73/219,221,250
;417/122,123,125,132,129,138,395 ;413/36,37 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Croyle; Carlton R.
Assistant Examiner: Gluck; Richard E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Osborn; Howard J. King; William H.
Manning; John R.
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent
of the United States is:
1. An automatic liquid inventory collecting and dispensing unit
comprising:
first and second tanks;
first and second two-way solenoid valves associated with each of
said tanks with the first coupled to a liquid source and its
associated tank for allowing the liquid to flow into the tank when
the first valve is in its normal position and for allowing the
liquid to flow out of the tank when the first valve is in its
actuated position and with the second valve connected to its
associated tank and a pressurized gas supply for allowing gas
inside the tank to flow out when the valve is in its normal
position and for allowing gas to flow from the gas supply into the
tank when the valve is in its actuated position;
control circuit means for actuating the two valves associated with
said first tank and not actuating the two valves associated with
the said second tank when both said first tank is filled with
liquid and said second tank is emptied for not actuating the two
valves associated with said first tank and for actuating the two
valves associated with said second tank when both said first tank
is emptied and said second tank is filled with liquid whereby said
first and second tanks are alternately filled and emptied;
said control circuit means including a piston inside each of said
first and second tanks to form a compartment inside each tank for
the liquid and a compartment inside the tank for the gas and
including a potentiometer associated with each of said tanks and
means attached to each said potentiometer and the associated piston
for varying the potentiometer in accordance with the movement of
said piston.
2. A liquid and dispensing unit according to claim 1 including
means for measuring the output of said potentiometer to give an
indication of the liquid level in the tank.
Description
ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION
The invention described herein was made by employees of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration and may be
manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental
purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or
therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The general purpose of this invention is to provide means for
automatically collecting waste liquids while at the same time
feeding these collect into water recovery processes. In addition,
the invention can be used to store and concurrently dispense the
processed water. The collection and dispensing function has been
performed manually in the past by utilizing two or more tanks. The
water inventory techniques used in the past are the graduated
water-site gages, tank pressure volume calibration, and weighing
techniques. The disadvantages of these techniques are that manual
operation of collection and dispensing devices require continuous
surveillance by the operators. This is very time-consuming and does
not allow the operators to perform other duties. Water inventory
techniques such as site gages and weighing fixtures will not
operate in zero gravity. Tank pressure water volume techniques
require additional pumping to fill the tanks. The back pressure on
the gas side of the liquid gas interface has to be equalized prior
to water transfer into the unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Basically, the invention consists of two bladdered tanks, separate
control and readout circuits for each tank, appropriate valves and
plumbing to simultaneously cocllect and dispense liquid as well as
continuously maintain an inventory of the liquid in the tanks. Each
of the tanks has first and second two-way solenoid valves
associated with it with the first connected to the liquid source
and its tank so as to allow the liquid to flow into the tank when
the valve is in its normal position and to allow the liquid to flow
out of the tank when the valve is in its actuated position and with
the second valve connected to the tank and gas supply so as to
allow gas inside the tank to flow out when the valve is in its
normal position and to allow gas to flow from the gas supply into
the tank when the valve is in its actuated position. The four
solenoid valves are connected to a control circuit means which
actuates the two valves associated with the first tank and which
does not actuate the two valves associated with the second tank
when both said first tank is filled and said second tank is
emptied, and for not actuating the two valves associated with the
first tank and for actuating the two valves associated with the
second tank when both said first tank is emptied and said second
tank is filled whereby said first and second tanks are alternately
filled and emptied. The invention also includes means for
indicating at any given time which tank is being filled and which
tank is being emptied, means for counting the number of times the
first and second tanks are filled, means for indicating at any
given time the liquid levels in the two tanks, and means for making
the invention operable in a zero gravity environment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of the two tanks and the plumbing
associated therewith in the embodiment of the invention selected
for illustration in the drawings; and
FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of the electrical circuitry used in
the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration in the
drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Turning now to the embodiment of the invention selected for
illustration in the drawings, the numbers 11 and 12 in FIG. 1
designate tanks. Located inside tanks 11 and 12 are rolled bladders
13 and 14 for holding the liquid. Bladder 13 is shown in its
emptied state and bladder 14 is shown in its filled state. These
bladders are made from any suitable flexible material such as
rubber. Also located inside tanks 11 and 12 are pistons 15 and 16
for applying pressures against rolled bladders 13 and 14,
respectively. Rotary potentiometers 17 and 19 are connected to the
two pistons 15 and 16, respectively, by negator springs 18 and 20,
such that as pistons 15 and 16 move up and down the outputs of
potentiometers 17 and 19 vary. A two-way solenoid valve 21 is
coupled to rolled bladder 13 and a liquid supply 23 such that when
no voltage is applied to leads 22, liquid will flow from the liquid
supply 23 through valve 21 into bladder 13 and when a voltage is
applied to leads 22, the liquid inside bladder 13 will flow through
valve 21 to the right side of the valve and out of the system. A
two-way solenoid valve 24 is coupled to rolled bladder 14 and to
liquid supply 23 such that when no voltage is applied to leads 25
the liquid from liquid supply 23 will flow through the valve into
bladder 14 and when a voltage is applied to leads 25 the liquid
inside bladder 14 will flow through the left side of valve 24 out
of the system.
A two-way solenoid valve 26 is coupled to tank 11 and to a
pressurized gas supply 27 such that when a voltage is applied to
leads 28, gas from the gas supply 27 will flow through valve 26
into tank 11 and when no voltage is applied to leads 28, the gas
inside tank 11 will be vented out of the right side of valve 26. A
two-way solenoid valve 29 is coupled to tank 12 and to pressurized
gas supply 27 such that when a voltage is applied to leads 30, gas
will flow from gas supply 27 into tank 12 and when a voltage is not
applied to leads 30 the gas in tank 12 will be vented out of the
left side of valve 29. Inasmuch as gas supply 27 is under pressure
when the gas flows into either of the two tanks it will force the
liquid out of the tank. Hence, the invention is operable in a zero
gravity environment since gravity is not necessary for its
operation.
In the control circuit shown in FIG. 2, a suitable voltage source
such as 28 volts d.c. is applied across terminals 31 and 32. A
switch 33 is in the line connected to terminal 31 for the purpose
of connecting and disconnecting the voltage source to the control
circuit. With switch 33 closed, a variable resistor 34 is connected
in series with a bridge circuit consisting of resistors 35 and 36,
variable resistor 37 and potentiometer 17, across the voltage
source. The junction of resistor 35 and potentiometer 17 and the
junction of resistor 36 and variable resistor 37 are connected to a
voltmeter 38. A low set point 39 of meter 38 is connected to one
side of the potential and a high set point 40 of voltmeter 38 is
connected to the other side of the potential. The meter 38 has a
needle 41 and a scale 42 on its face. Needle 41 is connected to the
junction of a relay coil 43 and a relay coil 44 that are connected
in series across the voltage source. The scale 42 is precalibrated
to indicate the level of liquid in tank 11. That is, as the level
of liquid in tank 11 changes the resistance of potentiometer 17
changes which in turn changes the position of needle 41 relative to
scale 42. Hence, scale 42 can relate directly to the level of
liquid in tank 11. When tank 11 is empty, needle 41 contacts low
set point 39 thereby connecting relay coil 44 directly across the
voltage source causing its contacts to be actuated. When tank 11 is
full, needle 41 contacts the high set point 40 thereby connecting
relay coil 43 across the voltage source.
A variable resistor 45 and a bridge circuit consisting of resistors
46 and 47, variable resistor 48 and potentiometer 19 are connected
in series across the voltage source. The junction of resistor 46
and potentiometer 19 and the junction of the resistor 47 and
variable resistor 48 are connected to a meter 49. A low set point
50 of meter 49 is connected to one side of the voltage source and a
high set point 51 of meter 49 is connected to the other side of the
voltage source. The needle 52 of meter 49 is connected to the
junction of relay coils 54 and 55 which are connected in series
across the voltage source. Meter 49 also has scale 53 on its face
which is precalibrated to represent the level of liquid in tank 12.
When tank 12 is empty, needle 52 contacts low set point 50 thereby
connecting relay coil 55 directly across the voltage source causing
its contacts to be actuated; and when tank 12 is full, needle 52
contacts high set point 51 thereby connecting relay coil 54 across
the voltage source.
A set of normally open relay contacts 43a, a diode 56, a set of
normally open relay contacts 55a, and a relay coil 57 are connected
in series across the voltage source. All relay contacts are
actuated by the relay coil designated by the same number. A set of
normally open relay contacts 54a, a diode 58, a set of normally
open relay contacts 44a and a relay coil 59 are connected in series
across the voltage source. A set of normally closed relay contacts
57a and a fill light indicator 60 are connected in series across
the voltage source. A set of normally open relay contacts 57b and a
set of normally closed relay contacts 59a are connected in series
between terminal 31 and the junction of relay contacts 55a and
relay coil 57. A dump light indicator 61 is connected across relay
coil 57. A set of normally open relay contacts 59b and a set of
normally closed relay contacts 57 c are connected in series between
terminal 31 and the junction of relay contacts 44a and relay coil
59. A dump light indicator 61 is connected across relay coil 59. A
set of normally closed relay contacts 59c and a fill light
indicator 62 are connected in series across the voltage source.
Valve 21 is connected in series with normally open relay contacts
57d across the voltage source, and valve 24 is connected in series
with the normally open relay contacts 59b across the voltage
source. Valve 26 is connected in parallel with valve 21 and valve
29 is connected in parallel with valve 24. Diodes 64 and 65 are
connected in series between the junction of contacts 43a and diode
56 and the junction of contacts 54a and diode 58. A counter 66 is
connected between the junction of diode 64 and 65 and terminal 32.
A switch 67 is connected as shown between terminal 31, the junction
of contacts 55a and relay coil 57 and the junction of contacts 44a
and relay coil 59. Counter 66 counts the number of times that relay
contacts 43a and 54a close.
In describing the operation of this invention, it will be assumed
that initially both tanks 11 and 12 are full. Hence, needle 41 is
in contact with high set point 40 energizing relay coil 43 and
needle 52 is in contact with high set point 51 energizing relay
coil 54. Consequently, relay contacts 43a and 54a are closed and a
count of two appears on counter 66. Then to start the sequence of
operations, switch 67 is actuated and it will be assumed that it is
actuated such that coil 59 is energized. Then relay contacts 59b
close, completing a circuit through relay contacts 59b, relay
contacts 57c and relay coil 59 to keep relay coil 59 energized.
Dump light 63 is also energized indicating that tank 12 is being
dumped. While relay coil is energized, relay contacts 59a and 59c
are open thereby assuring that relay coil 57 and fill light
indicator 62 are not energized. Also relay contacts 59d are closed
energizing both valve 24 and valve 29. This results in the liquid
in tank 12 being dumped. As the liquid is being dumped, that is, as
the gas flows into tank 12 forcing the piston 16 against bladder
14, piston 16 is moved away from its top position thereby
decreasing the output of potentiometer 19. against bladder 14,
piston 16 is moved away from its top This decrease can be noted by
the movement of the needle 52.
When tank 12 is emptied, needle 52 contacts low set point 50
energizing relay coil 55. This will close relay contact 55a,
energizing relay coil 57 since contacts 43a are closed. This closes
relay contacts 57b completing the holding circuit for relay coil
57. Light 61 is energized indicating that the liquid in tank 11 is
being dumped and relay contacts 57a are opened turning off the fill
light indicator 60. Relay contacts 57c are opened de-energizing
relay coil 59 and relay contacts 57b are closed energizing valves
21 and 26. Since relay coil 59 is de-energized relay contacts 59
assume their normal position thereby de-energizing valves 24 and
29. Since valves 24 and 29 are deenergized, the liquid from liquid
supply 23 flows through valve 21 into the bladder 13 of tank 11 and
the gas inside tank 11 is vented out through valve 26. When tank 11
is filled, needle 52 makes contact with high set point 51,
energizing coil 54 which closes relay contacts 54a thereby
producing another count on counter 66. Since valves 21 and 26 are
energized, the gas from gas supply 57 flows through valve 26 into
tank 11 forcing the liquid in bladder 13 out through valve 21. When
tank 11 is emptied needle 41 makes contact with low set point 39
completing an electrical circuit through relay coil 44. coil 59
which completes a cycle of this invention. Diodes 56 and 58 are
blocking diodes to prevent false counts when relays 44 and 55 are
energized.
The advantages of this invention are that it is automated to allow
the simultaneous collection and dispensing of liquids as well as
maintaining an inventory of liquid in the tanks. These features
eliminate the need for manual operation which reduces the manpower
requirement to operate the unit.
* * * * *